Bankruptcy

Filing for personal bankruptcy is often the culmination of years of financial struggle. Most people have already turned to a number of possible solutions to settle their debt problems without success. Bankruptcy is typically a last-resort decision, in which you legally petition a court to remove your existing debts. When the filing takes effect, you will then gain some breathing room — and the chance to rebuild your financial situation. However, because of the gravity of this step, realize that your credit will take a serious hit. It’s important to understand the truth about bankruptcy and its long-term effect on your credit. Here’s what you need to know before you take the plunge.

Immediate Effects to Score

When you file for bankruptcy, you can expect to see your credit score take a tumble — but the exact amount may depend on the score you currently hold. Generally, the lower your score is at the time of filing, the fewer points you stand to lose. Most of the time, a bankruptcy filer has already racked up a few adverse events on their credit report — such as a past-due item or collection activity — which means that a bankruptcy may not leave as substantial an impact. However, if your credit record is spotless and you boast a fairly solid score — such as between 600 and 700 — you may lose more than 200 points. Also, the total amount of debts discharged will play a part in the overall credit score slide. Someone who carried a significant amount of debt will likely experience a more substantial drop than someone who only had a couple of accounts involved.

Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13

The type of bankruptcy that you file won’t matter to your credit score. That means that the effect on your score will be the same, whether you file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, in which you agree to repay a portion of your debts over an extended time period, or Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which simply obliterates the debts without any obligation of repayment. However, keep in mind that when potential lenders review your credit report in the future, they might view a Chapter 13 filing a bit more favorably than its counterpart.

Length of Time on Report

Bankruptcy will appear as a public record on your credit report. As long as it remains there, it will continue to affect your credit negatively. If you filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the bankruptcy will be included on your report for 10 years after the date of filing. Chapter 13 filers will see all mentions of bankruptcy disappear after seven years. Any accounts that were included in the bankruptcy will be reported alongside a “discharged” or “included in bankruptcy” notation. The upside? Those accounts will no longer be reported as past due or unpaid.

Diminishing Effects

Each year that passes will lessen the negative impact of bankruptcy on your credit. Once the seven or 10 years expires, you can finally breathe a sigh of relief — the bankruptcy will automatically disappear from your report. Remember that you do not need to wait for the bankruptcy filing to fall off your credit report before you can begin to rebuild your credit. To speed up the credit-building process, make sure to practice sound financial management.

Repairing Credit After Bankruptcy

Rebuilding your credit after bankruptcy can seem like an overwhelming process. But the truth about bankruptcy is that plenty of people have gone on to achieve impressive credit scores, even after nearing the brink of financial ruin. The safest way to do this is through a secured credit card, which will require you to pay an upfront security deposit that will serve as your “credit limit.” Once you build a history of monthly on-time payments, you can begin to reverse some of the negative effects of bankruptcy. Loans are also available to post-bankruptcy filers and typically require either a deposit or collateral. Keep your total debt load low — ideally try not to let the amount of debt you’re using exceed 30 percent of your total available credit.

This Is Where We Shine

The truth about bankruptcy is that you will recover. Whether you’re considering filing, or just emerging from the process, contact us for a free consultation. Our team of credit gurus at Ovation Credit have helped hundreds of thousands of consumers repair their credit. We could be just the helping hand you need today.

Going through a bankruptcy can be a hugely stressful situation. But while it certainly impacts your credit for some time, it’s comforting to know that this financial event won’t stick with you forever. Find out exactly what to expect in terms of your credit report and score if you’re planning on filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. And if you already have filed for bankruptcy, we’ll share our top tips for starting over on the right foot so you can repair your credit as quickly as possible.

What Happens to Your Credit Right After Bankruptcy?

Once your bankruptcy hits your credit report, your score can drop as much as 200 points. The higher your existing credit score is, the more your score will drop. If you have a lower score, you might not see your score change quite as dramatically — though it will still be significant.

The severity of your bankruptcy also impacts your credit score. The more debt you have discharged, for instance, the more your score could drop. You may want to sign up for a credit monitoring service so you can track exactly where your credit score is headed throughout the recovery process.

How long a bankruptcy stays on your credit report depends on what type you filed. A Chapter 7 stays on your report for 10 years, while a Chapter 13 stays on for just 7 years. Additionally, any financial history leading up to your bankruptcy, such as late payments or loan defaults, only stay on your credit report for 7 years from the time they were added to the report.

Luckily, even though these effects can be devastating, they won’t last forever; in fact, they won’t even last the entire length of time you see that negative bankruptcy entry on your credit report.

How Long Does It Take to Improve Your Credit?

Even if you just went through a bankruptcy, you can start improving your credit score immediately. There are a few different ways you can repair your credit over time, even with such a serious entry. First, don’t rack up any new debt. While it can help your credit score to open new lines of credit, don’t max out any cards or take on high-interest loans.

Instead, keep your credit utilization under 30% to maximize your credit score. Another huge factor in the credit repair process is making bill payments on time each month. Make sure you do this on a regular basis in order to keep your accounts in good standing and start to improve your credit.

How Do You Get New Credit with Such a Bad Credit Score?

There are actually several options for accessing new credit products regardless of your credit score. For example, you could apply for either a secured credit card or credit builder loan soon after your bankruptcy. Since both of those require a security deposit, the credit requirements for approval are minimal. As you continue to fix your credit with on-time payments, you can apply for loans and credit cards with better rates and terms.

You could potentially get into the 700+ range somewhere between four and five years after your bankruptcy, if you make consistently positive financial decisions. If you’re hoping to buy a house in the future, some home loan programs will qualify you after just two years from your bankruptcy. In some cases, you could even qualify after one year.

Can You Dispute a Bankruptcy on Your Credit Report?

Getting a bankruptcy removed from your credit report early is a difficult process. You’ll have the best luck if you can show evidence of a credit error. Find out by requesting a copy of your credit report and scanning it thoroughly for any inaccurate listings, particularly concerning your bankruptcy. If you find something wrong, you can submit a credit dispute directly with the credit bureau. They’ll have 30 days to respond to your request. Depending on your situation, they may simply update the entry or delete it entirely.

Petitioning the credit bureaus can be a long and cumbersome process. If you’d like professional help, consider working with a reputable credit repair firm like Ovation Credit. We provide a Free Credit Repair Consultation and Credit Report Summary with absolutely no obligation. During the call, our team can give you a better idea of the best way to improve your credit, whether it’s related to a bankruptcy or other negative items on your credit report.

Going through bankruptcy is tough. It takes the advice of a good lawyer or a finance expert to make sure that you do everything right and well. On top of it all, the intricate nature of the process and the emotional impact of the proceedings can make the entire bankruptcy feel more complicated than it is. Do yourself a favor and make sure that you learn the bankruptcy lingo and terms before you begin the filing procedures.

Learning Bankruptcy Lingo:

1. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Chapter 7 is what most people think of when they think of bankruptcy. It involves liquidating your assets and discharging unsecured debt. In some cases, you will be forced to sell assets to satisfy your creditors if you do not pass a means test, but you will usually be able to keep most, if not all, of what you own. It takes around four months to complete the process.

2. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

You also have the option to reorganize your debts with a Chapter 13 bankruptcy as long as you have a regular income. This type of bankruptcy forces your creditors to allow you to repay what you owe on a payment plan. Sometimes amounts are reduced, sometimes not. Sometimes you get big savings on interest, sometimes it’s just about giving you extra time to pay everything off. It’s called reorganization. The process may take a few years, but you’ll be able to keep everything.

3. Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

If you have a business and your debts stem from running that enterprise, you could qualify for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This is like a Chapter 13 bankruptcy for your business. Through the help of the bankruptcy courts, you will reorganize your debt, keep your business open if you like and pay back your company debts over time.

4. Automatic Stay

In either case, when you file a bankruptcy petition, all collection activity is required to stop. Foreclosures, collection phone calls, penalty rates — all this stops as soon as you file for bankruptcy and let your creditors know about your situation.

5. Creditor

Anyone to whom you owe money or claims to be owed money by you is referred to as a creditor. This could be a person or a company. Bankruptcy filings are public, so sometimes a creditor will contact the bankruptcy court if they have been left off of your petition. Try not to let this happen. It is important that you list all your creditors in your bankruptcy petition or else it could derail the proceedings.

6. Claim

The formal acknowledgment that you owe a creditor is called a claim. These claims are an important part of your bankruptcy filing.

7. Lien

When a creditor has a legal right to take your property or sell it to satisfy your debt, this is called a lien.

8. Discharge

After you complete your bankruptcy proceedings and you are successful, eligible debts will be discharged. This means that your creditors cannot pursue further action against you. Your debt with them is over and satisfied. It is important to note that while many debts can be discharged, some cannot. If you owe alimony, are behind on your child support or have back taxes, you cannot discharge that debt, and there are many other similar types of debt. Your situation also matters. Sometimes, the court decides whether it is appropriate for you to discharge a debt.

9. Non-dischargeable Debt

Debts that cannot be discharged are referred to as non-dischargeable.

10. Dismissal

If you are unsuccessful in your bankruptcy filing, it may be dismissed. This means that the bankruptcy court has decided to throw out your petition. Your creditors will be free to pursue collection or litigation (aka sue you) in order to get a court to force you to repay your debts.

11. Exemptions

When you file for any type of bankruptcy, you will need to list out all your assets and debts. The court then determines if an asset should be liquidated to help pay for a specific debt. However, there are some assets that exempt. These are called exemptions or exempt property. For instance, there is a homestead exemption that could allow you to keep your home. Also, bankruptcy petitioners are often permitted to keep their “tools of trade” — such as your computer if you are a graphic designer or your tools if you are a mechanic.

12. Means Test

The Means Test is bankruptcy lingo used in Chapter 7 bankruptcies to determine whether the person filing for bankruptcy is abusing the system. “Abuse is presumed if the debtor’s aggregate current monthly income (see definition above) over 5 years, net of certain statutorily allowed expenses is more than (i) $12,850, or (ii) 25% of the debtor’s non-priority unsecured debt, as long as that amount is at least $7,700,” explains U.S. Courts. “The debtor may rebut a presumption of abuse only by a showing of special circumstances that justify additional expenses or adjustments of current monthly income.”

Understanding the Bankruptcy Lingo saves you time!

Bankruptcy can be a stressful time. Don’t make it harder than it needs to be by not understanding the bankruptcy lingo being used. Spending time differentiating between key concepts will make understanding your bankruptcy options easier and take some of the strain out of the process.

For many people, bankruptcy is a scary concept, something to be avoided at all costs. However, the truth is that legal bankruptcy can relieve you of major financial burdens and allow you to begin planning a debt-free future.

Two Types of Bankruptcy

In essence, declaring bankruptcy is a way of telling the United States court system that you can’t currently pay your debts. There are two main kinds of bankruptcy for individuals (as opposed to businesses). A Chapter 13 bankruptcy lets you negotiate with your lenders and come up with new payment plans that you can manage. In most cases, people must make all of their payments within five years.

If you don’t have much in the way of disposable income, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy may be the option for you. Unfortunately, it will require you to sell or cash in some of your assets in order to pay certain bills. On the bright side, this measure will eliminate some of your debts ― medical bills, for instance ― so you can forget about them entirely.

The Procedure

If you’ve decided to file for bankruptcy, your first task is to find a lawyer you can afford. That attorney will explain all of the details of the process. She’ll also supply you with the forms you’ll need and help you to complete them correctly.

Later, you’ll have to appear in court at a 341 hearing, which some or all of your creditors may attend. There, you’ll discuss your debts and assets. If you’re going through a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your debtors’ official representative, who’s known as the bankruptcy trustee, will help figure out which of your possessions you’ll be required to liquidate.

As part of your bankruptcy responsibilities, you’ll need to take a class that will review methods for handling your personal finances. In addition, you should know that, under the law, your boss isn’t allowed to fire you merely because you’ve declared bankruptcy.

Next Steps

Once your bankruptcy is behind you, a good first step is to carefully prepare a budget for yourself. Make a thorough list of your monthly expenses and compare it to your monthly income. Of course, you should be spending significantly less than you’re making so you can grow your savings and build up an emergency fund. If you’re spending too much each month, do whatever you must to reduce your expenditures, increase your income or both.

For example, you might look for a job that pays more, or even get a second job. You could move to a cheaper apartment, or you could sell your home and buy one that’s smaller and more affordable. Why not give up golf, forego cable TV or start using less smartphone data? Whatever you can think of to get on solid financial footing, take that action at once.

If you obtain a secured credit card with low fees, using it in moderation should help you to raise your credit score.

Especially important, make sure that you pay every bill on time. It’s worthwhile to set up as many automatic electronic payments as you can. That way, you’ll be less likely to forget to pay a bill. Also, keep checking the bank accounts from which your automatic payments come. Obviously, you don’t want to overdraw from one of them.

When it comes to the bills you can’t automate, try using an app or an old-fashioned calendar to remind yourself of due dates. Moreover, make each of those payments several days before they’re due. You don’t want unforeseen circumstances to somehow prevent you from paying on time.

The services of an excellent credit repair company can likewise enhance your credit report. Such a firm will scrutinize your credit history, find mistakes that are hurting your score and contact the proper credit reporting agencies to get them erased.

As time goes by, keep reviewing copies of your credit reports. If you ever spot a sudden drop in your score, you could get in touch with a credit repair company to see if an error was involved.

A Tricky Decision

It probably goes without saying that bankruptcies aren’t entirely positive. This legal process will damage your credit score, and a bankruptcy notice will stay on your credit record for a full 10 years. And, even though there’s no reason to, you may experience some lingering feelings of failure or shame after you file for bankruptcy.

However, these days, lenders tend to be more lenient with those who’ve declared bankruptcy than they once were, especially people who’ve only gone bankrupt one time. Thus, you shouldn’t expect that you’ll have to pay enormous interest rates for all of your future loans. In some cases, though, you might be required to explain to potential creditors why you chose to declare bankruptcy.

In the final analysis, bankruptcy is certainly a serious and consequential action. At the same time, it can be a uniquely valuable tool for those who find themselves in difficult financial situations. Many people are able to turn their lives around as soon as they take this step.

Your credit score shows both your short- and long-term credit history, so building a perfect credit report can take years. However, there are many steps along the way, and you can see some improvements to your credit score in a matter of weeks. Here’s how long changes should take to be reflected in your credit score.

Paying Down Credit Balances

Paying down a credit card or other balance is one of the fastest improvements you can make to your credit. Your credit utilization score is a real-time factor that only looks at your current balances and has no memory of the past.

Any payments you make to reduce your balance by your due date will be reflected on your next statement. As soon as the credit bureau receives your new statement (usually within a few days), your credit score should go up. Some credit card companies will even update your balance with the credit bureaus early if you call and ask.

Stopping New Credit Applications

Another nearly instant change is when you stop making new credit card or loan applications to try to dig out of debt. Each application lowers your credit score, so stopping is the first step to improving.

Once you stop applying for new credit, your previous applications stop affecting your credit relatively quickly. They’re only reflected on your credit report for two years, and don’t even affect your credit score after the first year. Better still, the effect of a credit card application is lessened after a few months. You should see credit score improvements even before the year is up.

Successful Credit Report Disputes

If you believe information on your credit report is incorrect and file a dispute, the credit bureau has between 30 and 45 days to investigate the dispute depending on its type. If your dispute is successful, the credit bureau must immediately update your credit report.

If the information you disputed was completely erroneous or unsubstantiated, it will be removed as if it never happened. Your credit score will be recalculated without the negative information.

If the information was correct but the date was wrong, the date will be adjusted. Because negative items have less effect on your credit over time, if the date is adjusted into the past, you should see a bump in your score.

The total time to complete a dispute and have your credit reported updated should be about two months.

Closing Accounts

You may hear that closing an old credit card will drop your credit score — that’s a myth. If you’re trying to fix your credit, you might wrongly think you need to keep paying an annual fee to keep your credit score up. If you don’t like a credit card, go ahead and close it today.

Positive account history stays on your credit report for 10 years after you close the account. By then, you’ll have replaced the positive history with more positive history.

The only thing to worry about is if you have a credit card with a high limit that accounts for a large portion of your available credit. In that case, closing the account could increase your credit utilization and lower your score. But, as explained above, your credit score will bounce right back up once you’ve paid down those other balances.

Late and Unpaid Accounts

If you have late payments, charge-offs or collections on your credit report, these items are generally reported for seven years plus 180 days from the date they occurred. After that time, they will fall off your credit report.

Luckily, their effect also lessens over time. You will see credit score improvements long before seven years as long as you don’t incur new negative items. In addition, isolated late payments lose weight much faster than longer patterns.

There are also a couple of tricks to removing these items even sooner. One is simply catching up on your payments, then calling or writing a letter to the lender apologizing for your mistake and asking the lender to remove the negative report. If that doesn’t work or you’re still behind on payments, some lenders will agree to remove the negative report in exchange for immediate full payment.

Tax Liens

Tax liens are another reason to avoid owing money to the IRS. An unpaid tax lien can stay on your credit report for up to 15 years, and paid liens remain for up to seven years.

However, the IRS is forgiving if you pay your debt or make arrangements to pay. Depending on the amount you owe and how delinquent your account is, you may be eligible to have the lien erased as if it never happened.

Bankruptcies

Bankruptcies stop collections and wipe out past due balances, but they don’t wipe your credit report clean. All negative information from before the bankruptcy will stay on until its usual expiration date. The bankruptcy itself remains on your credit report for 10 years.

Like with other negative information, the impact of a bankruptcy lessens over time. People who make a focused effort to rebuild their credit after a bankruptcy can often reestablish a good credit rating within a year or two after their bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy sounds like a dirty word, but for many people, it is a lifeline to starting over. Whether you lost your job, were overwhelmed with an unavoidable expense or found yourself dealing with a costly illness, bankruptcy was designed to give people a chance to begin again. However, bankruptcy does take a serious toll on your credit score.

Understanding the Impact of Bankruptcy

Luckily, that’s not to say that your credit score is going to be ruined forever. According to the Federal Trade Commission, your bankruptcy can stay on your credit report for as long as 10 years after your debts are discharged, and that can make accessing new credit, buying a home or even getting a job difficult. While the impact can be severe, it is possible to repair your credit after bankruptcy. It just takes some proactive efforts on your part.

Look at it like this: Your credit score is meant to be indicative of how risky it is to let you owe money. High balances, late payments and anything else that could show you may be living outside your means is suspect. Filing for bankruptcy is largely the culmination of those issues. Now, you may have had extenuating circumstances that were completely outside of your control, or you may have merely gotten underwater and couldn’t find your way out. Whatever the case, the bankruptcy on your credit report is objective; it doesn’t matter why it happened. To repair your credit, you have to demonstrate that you are no longer a credit risk.

Starting Over After Bankruptcy

The first advice most people hear after filing for bankruptcy or facing some similar credit crushing issue is to establish new credit as soon as possible. That is good advice, but it is incomplete. Repairing your credit after bankruptcy will require that you have accounts on which you make regular payments. Getting a loan and then paying it off will not do nearly as much good for your credit report as making consistent payments.

“The key is to establish at least three positive trades actively reporting on each of your reports with Equifax, Transunion and Experian,” explains Marco Carbajo for the Small Business Administration. “For example, if you’re currently making timely payments on a car note but have no other positive credit that’s active, then you should obtain two secured credit cards and use them regularly.”

Understanding Your Credit Score

Aside from exercising your credit, you also want to practice good spending habits. According to the Federal Reserve Board, your credit score is influenced by whether you make your payments on time, the amount of debt you have, the number of accounts you have, the length of your credit history and how much you owe.

For instance, once you get your first credit cards after bankruptcy, you will want to make sure that you keep the amount of debt on those cards at less than 30 percent of the credit limit, and increase your credit limit whenever you can – the higher your credit limit, the more your creditors trust you and the better it looks on your credit reports. Also, make sure you are making your payments on or before the due date and paying any billable amounts in full.

We have a Credit Analyst Ready to Take Your Call Now.

Take Advantage of this FREE offer.

Being Selective About Your Credit

After bankruptcy, you want to be selective about where you find your credit as well. Many people with bad credit are sold solutions that promise to provide them access to new credit far more quickly than through any other source, but beware of those offerings. Even if the lender is legit, if the company is known as a “high-risk lender,” using them for your credit or banking needs could actually hurt your credit score. Instead, focus on well-known lenders and credit companies. Choosing a big bank over a high-risk lender, even if it means you have to start with a lower credit limit or a secured credit card over a traditional credit card, looks better and may even give you more options for growing your credit as you repair the damage from your bankruptcy.

Righting the Wrongs in Your Credit Report

You should also take a look at your credit reports to make sure that the debts from your bankruptcy were discharged properly and that all information is accurate. An error on your credit report can really work against you. To do correct inaccuracies, the Federal Trade Commission says that you will need to obtain a copy of your credit report from each of the credit reporting agencies and inform them in writing of any inaccuracies. You may need to provide proof of the inaccuracy if possible, and it may be necessary to tell your creditor that you are disputing the entry. Hiring a credit repair company can make the process easier. They handle the paperwork for you and handle the dispute on your behalf.

Once you begin to take steps to improve your credit score after bankruptcy, you can start to see modest improvements pretty quickly. As long as you are careful with your credit, choose the right lenders and maintain accurate credit reports, you can repair your credit after bankruptcy.

Are you wondering how paying off your debt could affect your credit score? There’s no doubt that paying all of your debts is the ideal thing to do, but sometimes it just isn’t possible. If you’ve lost your job or suffered other hardships, you may have to choose which bills to pay. Here’s how each course of action will affect your credit score.

1. Paying in Full

You may be unable to pay in full now, but it’s worth considering in case you win the lottery, find a higher paying job or have some other windfall. When you start paying on time again, you’ll have positive payment history added to your credit report.

Unfortunately, any past late payments or other negative remarks will not be removed from your credit report when you bring the account current. They may affect your credit score for up to seven years from when they happened.

2. Paying Only the Minimum Payment

Paying the minimum payment due by the due date keeps your accounts current and avoids late payment penalties. Even when money is tight, make paying the minimum payment on every account your first priority.

When possible, you should pay more than the minimum. In addition to saving interest, you’ll also be improving your credit profile.

Paying only the minimum payment can lead to your credit card utilization ratio increasing, which will lower your credit score. Credit card companies also have internal models that flag accounts with only minimum payments as high risk, and they may reduce your credit limit or close your account.

3. Paying Late

Paying late should never be an option. Even if you’re trying to pay off a higher interest credit card first, don’t skip paying the minimum payment on your lower interest cards.

If you absolutely can’t make every minimum payment, you should understand the two payment deadlines. The first is the actual due date that must be met to avoid a late fee, while the second is for credit scoring purposes. Late payments aren’t reported to the credit bureau as long as you make the payment within 30 days of the due date.

4. Ignoring Your Bills

If you can’t make your minimum payments and have already had a late payment reported on your credit report, don’t just ignore the bill. It will only get worse.

Unpaid debts will be reported as charged off or result in a lawsuit and judgment against you. These have a much bigger negative impact on your credit report than late payments.

If you’re sued, you’re also at risk of having your wages or bank accounts garnished and losing even more control over your finances.

We have a Credit Analyst Ready to Take Your Call Now.

Take Advantage of this FREE offer.

5. Using the Debt Snowball Method

The debt snowball method is a strategy you can use once you stabilize your finances and are able to make more than the minimum payment on your credit cards. With the snowball approach, you focus on paying off one credit card at a time — either the lowest balance or the highest interest rate.

The downside to the snowball method is that your credit score may not rise as quickly as it could. It’s typically better to have moderate balances on all of your cards than to have one or two with no balance and the rest almost maxed out.

The credit card companies that you’re only paying minimum payments to may also get nervous, as explained above.

6. Taking Out a Loan to Pay Off Credit Cards

Taking out a loan to pay off credit card debt may or may not be advantageous. The biggest positive impact it will have is to bring up your credit score by reducing your credit card utilization ratio.

However, a loan will often have higher monthly payments than your credit card minimum payments. This puts you at greater risk of making late payments unless you’re absolutely sure you can meet the new payment amount.

Of course, you’ll also need to compare the interest rate of the loan to your credit card rates to see if it’s worth it. This is more likely to be the case if previous late credit card payments have pushed you up to the penalty APR.

7. Offering a Settlement

If lenders believe there is a risk they won’t be paid in full, they’re often willing to accept a lump-sum settlement or a modified payment plan. Legally, you won’t owe them any remaining balance, but your account won’t be reported as in good standing on your credit report.

Your credit report will also reflect that you settled the account for less than what you owed. As with other options, past negative history is not deleted.

8. Paying for Deletion

Paying for deletion is a type of settlement where you ask the creditor to remove negative items from your credit report in exchange for your payment. You may also be able to ask that the account be marked as paid in full rather than settled or charged off.

Technically, the credit bureaus don’t allow this practice, but many creditors bend the rules if it helps them get paid. If you’re successful, the negative items will be removed from your credit report, and your score will be the same as it would have been if they were never added.

9. Declaring Bankruptcy

A bankruptcy in itself has one of the largest negative impacts on your credit score, and it also doesn’t erase negative history. However, bankruptcy will stop collections and prevent new negative marks from being added to your credit report.

If you can’t keep up with your payments, bankruptcy may be the best option to stop the damage and allow you to focus on rebuilding your credit score.

As you read in our last post, you have a lot to consider before you file for bankruptcy. You also need to consider the consequences once you do file. Bankruptcy will help you restructure and eliminate debt, but it will affect you for many years to come.

Credit Rating

Your bankruptcy filing will appear on your credit reports for ten years after you file. Although you may still be able to obtain loans during that time, when you do get one, you may have to deal with higher interest rates. Late payments and unpaid debts, on the other hand, only remain on your credit report for seven years.

If you can avoid filing for bankruptcy and instead repair your credit by having errors removed from your report, for example, you could have an easier time securing affordable loans, or at least have less of a wait. Seven years isn’t exactly a short amount of time.

Discrimination Because of Bankruptcy

Government agencies may not discriminate against you for filing for bankruptcy. However, private entities have more leeway. For instance, your employer may not fire you or punish you if you filed for bankruptcy, but a new employer can refuse to hire you. Other forms of legal discrimination range from having your renter’s application denied to having your college transcript withheld (if it is from a private university).

How Long Until Everything is Normal?

Every situation is different, but one thing is for sure: As we mentioned above, your bankruptcy filing will be on your record for ten years. That doesn’t mean that it will take you ten years to obtain a good credit score, but it will make it more difficult than if you can manage to avoid bankruptcy and instead handle your situation through careful budgeting and credit repair.

Effect on Mortgage and Car Loans

The type of bankruptcy filing you make will determine if you can stay in your home and keep your car, assuming you have loans on each. If you declare Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you can keep your home if you are up-to-date on your mortgage payments, or if you can restructure your payment plan. If you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, though, you may likely have to surrender your home to your lender. The situation is similar with your car loan when you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If you are behind or unable to make payments on that loan, your car may be seized as well.

The risk of foreclosure and losing your car, and the cost and difficulty of securing future credit all may be difficult on you and your family, so closely consider your bankruptcy and credit repair options before making a decision. If you think that bankruptcy isn’t your best option, consider Ovation for your credit repair needs. We can provide the tools you need to re-establish your credit and feel more confident with your financial situation.

If you’re considering bankruptcy, you already know that it’s a big decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. With so much involved, though, it can be difficult to know where to start or if working on credit repair alone may be enough to help you out of your situation.

Before you declare bankruptcy, here’s a list of seven things you need to consider:

Chapter 7 or Chapter 11

There are two kinds of bankruptcy: Chapter 7 and Chapter 11. Chapter 7 bankruptcy is sometimes called “fresh start” bankruptcy. You can read a full description of Chapter 7 bankruptcy on uscourts.gov.The long and short of it, though, is that you will be free of debt, but your debtors will be able to seize some of your property as compensation of that debt. Chapter 13 bankruptcy on the other hand, allows you to set up a payment plan to pay your debts back over the course of three to five years, depending on your situation.

Cost of Bankruptcy Filings

You will be charged a fee when filing for bankruptcy. If you are filing for Chapter 7, that fee will be $200. The fee for Chapter 13 filings is $185. These fees cannot be waived. However, you do not need to pay them immediately upon filing for bankruptcy; instead, a payment plan for the fee can be created. If you use an attorney, you will have additional costs to pay, which brings us to the next issue.

Use of an Attorney

While you are not required to use an attorney, it would probably be a good idea, because using one will greatly increase the likelihood of your filing being successful.

Property You Can Keep

As explained previously, you can keep all of your property if you file for Chapter 13. When you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you will be able to keep “exempt” property such as food, clothing, and furniture. You should consult laws in your state to determine what property is considered exempt where you live, but it is typically property that is essential to your livelihood. Food and clothing are exempt, whereas the pinball machine you bought for the basement game room probably isn’t.

Debts that Can’t Be Discharged

There are some kinds of debt that cannot be discharged. For Chapter 7 filings, some of the most common are taxes and tax liens, student loans, alimony, child support, and debts obtained through fraud.

The list of debts that can’t be discharged is similar for Chapter 13 filings. Added to that list are unscheduled debts, interest owed on nondischargeable debts, and debts incurred after you file your case.

Going to Court

You will probably not need to spend a lot of time in court, but you will need to make at least one appearance there for a “meeting of creditors.” You will be asked to answer a few questions from the court trustee, including if you have had a bankruptcy discharge before and how long you have lived at your current location. Your creditors may also ask you questions, although they may not be abusive.

Credit Repair Instead

If Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy don’t sound like options you want to pursue, consider Ovation for credit repair instead. You may be able to get out of your debt situation through a combination of budgeting and having errors on your credit report fixed, as well as other valuable tools we offer. We will give you a complimentary consultation to determine if credit repair is in your best interest and discuss how we can be of assistance as you begin rebuilding your credit.

Filing for bankruptcy is never an easy decision and should only be considered as a last resort. Unfortunately, because of the long-term unemployment, the housing crisis, and the recession, more people are facing that last resort than ever before. Chapter 7 bankruptcy is a formal judgment that releases you from most of your debts.

If most of your debt is from unsecured credit cards or a mortgage that you can no longer afford, obtaining a judgment of bankruptcy may be your only option if you are unable to find work, find a short sale buyer, or work with your bank to obtain a home refinance. If your creditors are attempting to seek judgment against you so that they can garnish your wages or attach your property, bankruptcy may be your only option.

There are certain debts that you cannot include in bankruptcy:

back child support

student loans, in most cases

income taxes owed for the last three years

recent credit purchases or cash advances

In other words, you can’t go out, max out all of your credit cards, and then file bankruptcy. The court will allow those debts to survive the bankruptcy.

If you have cosigners on your loans or credit cards, they may be held responsible for your debt. For example, if you maintained a credit card that was in your name and your ex-spouse’s name, and you file bankruptcy, the creditor can try to collect the debt from your ex-spouse. While some property may have to be surrendered, you are allowed to keep certain items:

your vehicle (if you have a loan on your vehicle you will have to reaffirm the debt to keep it)

clothing (but not minks or other high value items)

some household furnishings and appliances

some jewelry

your pension

tools for your business

public benefits such as TANF or SSI that are in your account

You may be required to surrender prized possessions, such as expensive collections, heirlooms, second vehicles, and second homes; you will likely be required to surrender most cash, stocks, and bonds. More importantly, a judgment of bankruptcy will remain on your credit report for up to ten years, making it difficult for you to establish credit, even more difficult to buy a home, and often impossible to get viable interest rates on loans. There is life after bankruptcy, but it can be tough. Before considering bankruptcy, consider alternatives that will be less damaging to your credit. Ovation may be able to help. Contact us for a free evaluation.

OVATION CREDIT

They have done miracles for me. I had some unknown reports and also had a stolen identity issue and they work wonders. I highly recommend Ovation, they keep in touch, explain everything and are very affordable. If you have credit issues, do yourself a favor and call Ovation!

They did everything that they said they could.My credit was ruined due to identity theft in 2017.I found out about Ovation Credit Repair called and they were very helpful and had a lot of information That I didn’t know. I explained everything and they said not a problem they could handle it and they did. The only problem I have with them is having to send them credit reports for what I paid they should find an easier way to get that accomplished like in a text or easy email but all and all they did exactly what they said they were going to do and I now have excellent credit. Thanks Ovation CreditMC

Great company to work with that will help remove creditors that shouldn't be on your credit. Ms.Susan McCoy has been so wonderful to with. (If you can request someone to work with you, I would request her!!) She keeps in contact with you by emails & phone calls to just check in to see how things are going & if she can help with anything else. She definitely does her part in helping get things removed from your credit report. It's only been acouple months working with Ms. McCoy, but we have gotten alot removed from my credit report. BIG THANK YOU to Ms. Susan McCoy @ Ovations Credit Services.

Within 2 month's there has been negative items deleted from my credit report and my credit score went up some. This is a good company to help people that have items in there credit report that doesn't belong there. Monica Tinsley is my credit advisor, she has been helping me every step of the way. So come on you'll, give this company a try.

I just want to say how appreciative I am to Ovation. Maria Murlanda has been nothing but helpful and worked hard (still working hard) to help me reach my goal. My credit just increased 103 points! At first, I was bit uneasy about the process but having the patience and trust in my Credit Advisor is probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever done. Just an FYI, this is not done over night. My husband’s credit is also rising and we are steps closer to getting our first house together! Thank you so much Ovation for working hard for your clients and to Maria.. you are amazing!!!

I had a negative mark on my credit which was making it difficult to start building good credit as a young guy, and Ovation was able to remove my negative mark on every bureau's report fairly quickly. My case advisor Monica Tinsley was efficient, knowledgeable, and quick to answer when I sent her emails. She always made sure to keep the ball rolling on my disputes so that no time was wasted. I would recommend their service to anyone who would like a clean slate on their credit reports.

I just want to say I am very very happy with this company as I used to have Lexington Law and they were a complete rip off no wonder they’re being sued if people don’t know. I have literally may not even two payments and my credit score has went from A little over 400 to 600 already and that is at the lowest plan they have available I was now able to be approved for a capital one card for $500 with a great interest rate they give you your own credit advisor always call you back if you need them and you can’t reach anyone at the time without this company and having a new baby on the way I would not have been able to finally start getting my credit back to where it used to be shot outs to ben, Paul And Cheryl my credit counselor. I would recommend this company to anyone and I have been because of them I’m finally getting my life back on track in such a short period of time it all depends on how much of course you have on your credit report that you need to have taken off but they’ve been excellent. Not only that they try to get things done as quick as possible so you don’t have to keep paying for a long period of time they really work hard for you and I appreciate everything they’ve done for me in such a short period of time. Thank you all so much!!!

The case adviser was competent and professional. She is getting me back on track and is vigorously, restoring my confidence/credit back. She is assume and everyone who is trying to restore their credit back, should consult with her ! Her name is Annette Stephens and she is the best.

I joined for 4 months and they have been able to send disputes and get so many negative items removed raising my credit score over 75 points. I have seen my score jump up each month consistently. I would definitely recommend if you are trying to get on track with raising your credit score.

I’m very blessed to have Ovation Credit Repair to be working on my credit report. Less than 4 months my credit went from 500 to 653 and the progress is still going up. 47 more points and I can get that loan I’ve been trying to get. Thanks Team Ovation

I got a email from Lending Tree saying that I am pre-approved for a loan. After learning that I had some credit issues, I got in touch with Ovation Credit Repair I had 5 negatives and 7 inquiries on my report. After being a client of Ovation Credit Repair, within 3 months my credit went from the low 500 to 653 and it’s still going up. Thanks team Ovation for the work you guys are doing and continue to do for me. TWO THUMBS UP!

After having some issues that I considered to be very serious, Ovation Credit Services reached out to me and stepped up and not only fix the issues, but offered their services at a discounted rate for the future if I needed them. Christina is one of the best representative for a company than I have ever dealt with. Not only did she show personal interest in my situation, she followed through with everything that she promised. I'm very satisfied.

I have had issues with my credit score, I asked around and friend of mine referred Ovation credit services to me with emphasis to ask about Susan McCoy to be my caseworker, Susan McCoy was nice, courteous respectful and the most important parts she is honest, she explained to me that she will file the disputes and I need to be patient, it could take a few months and she will do her best, well her best was amazing after two weeks of her working on my case my numbers jumped from low 600's to 750's, all the disputes went through, I was shocked, happy and forever gracious.Thank you Susan you are the best.

In my previous line of work , I would refer people to credit repair places. I quit doing that because I would get bad feedback on the places . Life changes and I found myself in need of credit repair. Ovation not only fixed my reports but I still retain them a year later because they are spot on in watching and making sure nothing negative is put on there. I recently was a victim of fraud and Ovation called me to ask why so many inquiries recently? Very very pleased with Ovation!Kudos to my guy Nick. Patient man is all I can say ! Great company that gets results !!!Debbi Britt

I AM VERY HAPPY!!!! I was hesitant at first but working with Gerri as been a great experience, our communication is always open and prompt. Ovation Credit has shown me that It's never too late to establish and repair your credit. I appreciate you Gerri. 🙂 Thank you

I AM VERY HAPPY!!!! I was hesitant at first but working with Gerri as been a great experience, our communication is always open and prompt. Ovation Credit has shown me that It's never too late to establish and repair your credit. I appreciate you Gerri. 🙂 Thank you

Susan McCoy is an amazingly kind and caring lady! She helped us navigate through a number of old debts thereby increasing our FICO score from low 400s to over 680 in under 3 months! We have now qualified for a 0% down VA home loan which will CLOSE less than 5 months after working with Susan. Our credit repair coalition with Susan ran flawlessly with absolutely amazingly quick-term resolution! There are no words to express the gratitude we owe to Susan and to her amazing resources within Ovation Credit. Thank you so much for all you've done for us!

I was looking for a company to fix my score credit since there was only one late payment from almost 10 years ago and i did not know that was the reason pulling my score down. The process and communication was amazing and Jenny Owen did an amazing job. After three months my credit score is up ! even when i decided to close my account the process and follow up was amazing ! i would recommend Ovation Credit Services and Jenny Owen

I AM VERY HAPPY!!!! I was hesitant at first but working with Gerri as been a great experience, our communication is always open and prompt. Ovation Credit has shown me that It's never too late to establish and repair your credit. I appreciate you Gerri. 🙂 Thank you

I've been a member of Ovation Credit Services for the past four months and overall my experience has been positive. Rose Marie has been filing disputes on my credit reports for the past few months and helped my credit reports return to a clean slate. I had one collections account reported to all three credit bureaus. Now, all of my credit scores are in the 700s and I can move on with my life. I certainly recommend Ovation Credit Services.

I've been a member of Ovation Credit Services for the past four months and overall my experience has been positive. Rose Marie has been filing disputes on my credit reports for the past few months and helped my credit reports return to a clean slate. I had one collections account reported to all three credit bureaus and I honestly didn't want to wait seven years for the collections account to fall off. Now, all of my credit scores are in the 700s and I can move on with my life. I certainly recommend Ovation Credit Services.

I made the right decision by choosing to fix my credit with Ovation Credit Services. it’s only been a couple of months, however, great progress and bettering each month forward. my selected Case Advisor, Monica Tinsley has been extremely helpful and proactive at sending out disputes and getting bad remarks off from my report. thank you so much for your help. highly recommend.

I made the right decision by choosing to fix my credit with Ovation Credit Services. it’s only been a couple of months, however, great progress and bettering each month forward. my selected Case Advisor, Monica Tinsley has been extremely helpful and proactive at sending out disputes and getting bad remarks off from my report. thank you so much for your help. highly recommend.

Extremely helpful service to improve your credit score. The people I have spoken with over the phone have all been thorough and effective in helping my credit score. I would recommend them to anyone looking for this type of service.

I started with Ovation Credit Service back in 2017. I was in need of getting my credit back on track, within months I saw my credit score on the raise. Now in 2019 I feel confident with my credit. Ovation was so easy to work with and the monthly payments which were quite reasonable, were well worth it. So if your feeling that there is just no way of getting your credit repaired call Ovation Credit Service and feel good again about yourself and your credit score. Get your credit repaired and your life back on track. Don't hesitate they can help you.

I first want to say how happy I am with Gerri. We have had a lot of laughs together which has made me feel very comfortable with her. We are now down to one credit bureau and I am so grateful. It is perfect timing because I am looking to move to Santa Rosa to be closer to my son. I would give her a 10 on a scale of 1-10 or 5 on a scale of 1-5. Thank you Ovation Credit Services I will recommend your services to other people. Thanks, so much Michele Soplata

I am extremely happy with the service that I received from Ovation Credit. My credit score jumped over a 100 points in only eight months, and I was able to get the loan I needed to consolidate my debts at a much better interest rate. Everyone overseeing my case was friendly, knowledgeable and stayed in consistent communication with me. I would definitely recommend this agency!

I am very happy with the progress Ovation is making on my credit score so far. Only 3 months in and they have had more than 15 negative reports removed from my Credit Report. I started with a FICO score of under 620 and after 3 months it is over 670 and still potential to climb. Special thanks to my Case Adviser PAUL MOORE JR., who is doing a great job leading me through this journey and providing excellent advice and tips along the way.

I am extremely happy with the service that I received from Ovation Credit. My credit score jumped! Nick Rosamilia is absolutely AMAZING! He has been nothing but friendly, knowledgeable and stays in consistent communication about updates. I would definitely recommend this agency!

I am extremely happy with the service that I received from Ovation Credit. My credit score jumped almost a 100 points and I only had the service for two month! Paul Moore was absolutely AMAZING! He was friendly, knowledgeable and stayed in consistent communication with me. I would definitely recommend this agency!

After reviewing various companies that could help us improve our credit scores, we were lucky enough to find Gerri at Ovation Credit Services. From the first phone call, we knew we were in good hands and she was really going to make a difference in our lives. Finding someone who you can trust and is sincerely help you with this sensitive subject is a huge relief. Things are already improving and the entire process is made a million times better working with someone who has a smile strongly come thru!

I had an incredible experience with Ovation Credit Services. I was able to purchase my first home with their assistance. My counselor worked diligently to keep me informed about the progress with my case. She also educated me about the most effective ways to continue to increase my credit score.

Ovation went all out to help me save my credit rating, and did a great job of restoring my rating to a very high level. I would and have recommended this company to anyone . My hat is off to L.A. Williams especially for her efforts to help me out of a deep hole. Thanks again

My husband and I are preparing to buy our first home and wanted to our credit reviewed by professionals. We did our research and found Ovation best suited our needs. Best decision we could have made. We were lucky enough to get Dale Moore as our counselor and hope that you go the extra mile and try and request him. Dale makes you feel like you are his only client which in today's world is very rare. We are happy to say that our credit scores are hugely improved and are on schedule to buy this summer. Thank you Dale and thank you Ovation!!

When I first started my subscription with this company I was a little hesitant but after six to eight months my credit score went from a 520 when I started to a 700. 90$ month is a little steep but they actually work if you have patience and send them all the information they ask for they will do exactly as they promised I highly recommend this service if you can't get your credit fixed

Jenny is very helpful. Everytime there’s an update on my account she emails me. Whenever something happens whether she s making an inquiry or the credit companies update her she lets me know. Looking forward to seeing my credit score rise as I’ve only been with them a month. So far everything is going good.

Ovation credit services a Lending Tree company has been such a blessing to me. My personal creditor Chad Self, has gone the extra mile in being personable and kind to me. I would like to point out that I had hired a different company in the past for a lesser rate and got exactly that... a cut-rate service and did not feel like I was a valued member.With Ovation, I feel like my investment is worth so much more than the monthly dues. Not only do they help repair negative items on your credit but by partnering with Lending Tree they can help you establish credit and qualify for loans as well. More bang for your buck folks! As well, they have a referral program. So be sure to tell them that Darla Watrous sent you. I'm serious folks, best credit decision I've ever made! As well as the top of the line customer service. Every time I hang up the phone I feel like I just spoke with an old friend. The saying is true, "You get what you pay for!" Thank you kindly to all involved in handling my case. I know if they can help me they can help you too. Don't forget to use my name and tell your friends.

So far Ovations has been very good at letting me know what's going on with my accounts. Paul Moore Jr has been very helpful with all my questions and concerns. I am very happy with everything that has been done. Ovation is helping me achieve my goal of buying a house and I am very confident that they will do that.

My case adviser Rose Marie is absolutely incredible. She is extremely through. Under her expertise my credit score increased an amazing hitting over 700 which allowed me to purchase 2 new cars at low interest rates. Thank you Rose Marie and Ovation Credit Services for a job well done!

I started out being skeptical about this company even after doing my research on this company, but i hung in there, stayed patient and followed their directions and it paid off tremendously. My credit score has risen and i can see the results from my credit score and i was very pleased with the staff and my case advisor who has helped me gain the credit power that i wanted and needed. I couldn't have done this so thoroughly on my own, it would have been very time consuming for me. Now that I have ended my membership with ovation credit services, I can move forward on my own and apply all the techniques that i have been taught by this company. Thank you all at ovation for changing my financial credit ability to a positive.

Thanks to Ms. Lou Ann Willams , my Ovation experience has been a joyously memorable one. I am thankful that she has and is continuing to help me attain my goals with credit. She provides the utmost motivation and dedication to her clients and allows her results to speak for her work, and they are magnificent. Ovation Credit Services has been not just a credit saver but a life saver too. Thank you Ms. Lou Ann, Thank You Ovation. Keep up the phenomenal work.

This by far has been one of the best experiences. Mrs. Stephens has (A. Stephens) been there always to either answer a simple question or walk me through this process. I would recommend this company to anyone who needs a little love on their credit.

I have been working with Mr. Paul Moore via Ovation and he has been very helpful and keeps me abreast of whats going on. I am still nervous about my credit clearing and getting to where it needs to be because I am in the process of buying a home and have seen my score decrease due to this process. However, Paul has assured me that all is well and my score will increase and things will get back to normal. I am looking forward to seeing a positive end result.

Hello all, since 10/2018....my credit was in the 500 range..I was skeptical about ovation, but after speaking with Mr. Paul Moore. I am now looking forward to better days, Ovation has disputed several items and inquiries. I now have a credit card and my scores are rising, I highly recommend this service to Restore your credit. The best hands down!!!!

A Google User

13:03 06 Dec 18

I just want to thank Paul Moore for always staying in top of improving my life.. thank you for keeping me calm all through the process for a better life. Love y’all keep up the good work.

So happy with Ovation!! :)Kevin Winkler is my case manager. I am so pleased with his efforts and hard work. He is always kind, friendly and answers all my questions. Keeps me well updated with the status. I am very satisfied with the progress. I highly recommend this company.

I can't believe how quickly my credit score skyrocketed thanks to ovation credit services. They promptly replied to any questions I had and made it a very easy experience for me. Ceiria was my agent and she did an excellent job and was friendly and professional. Thanks!!!

Over the last two months with the help of Ovation, I have increased my credit score over 100 points on all 3 bureaus. I went from no way ever being able to get a loan to actually being able to replace my 13 year old vehicle and possibly buying a house. It also took effort on my part but it has been the best decision I could make.

This company is great! It certainly is NOT TRUE that this company is a scam...Geri is working hard for myself and my partner. They really get things removed off your credit and help you get started to rebuild it by recommending things for you to do. I had alot of medical bills and student loans. I highly recommend this company, its amazing!!!! You won't be disappointed, and there are different payment plans, you even get a discount for friends and family....Give it a try.... You do have to be patient, it is a process and it does take time...

This company is great! Geri is working hard for me and my partner. They really get things removed off your credit and help you get started to rebuild it... I highly recommend them to anyone, amazing!!!! You won't be disappointed, and there are different payment plans, you even get a discount for friends and family....Give it a try.... You do have to be patient, it is a process and it does take time...

I love this place they're doing their best to get my credit situated and they are working extremely hard on this. Yes it does cost money but it'll be worth it in the end if they can get my credit cleared up. I'm going to give them 3 months and if they don't get it cleared up in 3 months then I will cancel it I don't think it should take any longer than 3 months to clear up my credit. Everyone is so helpful and nice friendly and always there to help you.

Very happy with Ovation! Amanda Hines is my case manager and she has been extremely diligent in the handling of my case. They are always available for questions and pleasant to deal with and have worked miracles on my credit score! 5/5 would recommend to anyone who is serious about fixing their credit.

My wife and I started in 2016 and purchased our second house this year. The key to our success was patience. We also did a lot of studying on our own about credit and made it our priority to ask Amanda questions. Any responses we get in the mail we send them to Amanda. I will be honest, I was getting frustrated after a year and asked my wife to cancel the service several times, I'm glad she didn't 🙂 . We still have some negative items, but mainly just student loans. We used Lexington Law in the past and they have a pretty nice portal so I'm giving this company 4 stars, they need to update their online portal, I don't like it, but other than that Ovation Credit, Lendingtree did what they said they would...Help us get a house with a low interest rate!

While, Ovation credit, did nothing for my credit personally, they helped my husband's immensely. He has a fabulous credit rating now. We both have since canceled, I am under my maiden name on this review, so you will not be able to find me. But my husband and I canceled a month or so ago, and they instantly got us all squared away, and were not charged another penny. They work for some and not for others. I guess I can say that about many things. I would recommend giving them a shot...

I had such a great experience with Ovation Credit Services. They were able to clear almost every negative mark off my credit and t went from a 395 to 650. I know it will keep going up if I pay bill on time.

I’ve been using ovation since 5-01 and it is now 5-08 and I’m getting emails from my credit report site saying “your score has improved” I’m up 40 points (yours will vary) and so thankful for ovation and how quick they are!! My consult is awesome my free consultation was super quick and they are so friendly i never thought i would get a quick laugh in over repairing credit. I can not wait to see how high i can get my credit with these people. They even offer discounts to your friends and family for referring them!! I can’t wait to take advantage of that

Ovation did a good job for me. They were prompt with all actions designed to help my credit score. Ovation communicated with me on a daily basis. They were professional and very nice folks. Thank you very much

I have been working with Gerri Swiber for a short time and so far am very pleased with this experience. She has already dedicated a lot of work to helping me and I am already beginning to see some results. She is very professional and I am very thankful to have this program to help improve my credit. Brian Hasty

I didn't believe that it could work especially with all the scams out there, but it does work. I signed up last year in January and since then i have had 42 things on my credit either removed or updated to show correctly on my credit report. I now have 3 credit cards, and will be purchasing a house this year!!!